Poland/Warsaw: 20 June, 2023 – On 15 May this year, Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and CARE International issued a statement calling for an immediate stop to the return of children in institutional care centres from Poland to Ukraine.

One month on, the organizations, also joined by Danish Refugee Council, would like to acknowledge the openness of the Polish authorities to discuss the returns and for taking steps to strengthen support for the children affected by this issue. At the same time, until the issue of potentially unsafe returns of children has been resolved, we stress the need for further joint efforts.

Together with governmental and non-governmental actors in Poland, we commit to continue working together to prioritise the wellbeing and best interests of affected children through the following aims:

• Working collaboratively on procedures to ensure that any returns to Ukraine take place only when it is safe, voluntary and in the best interests of the individual child. 
• Ensuring that each child is assigned a government social worker or non-governmental organisation caseworker who visits regularly to implement an individualised care plan that meets the unique needs of each child. 
• Establishing a learning and support programme to build the capacity of caregivers and legal guardians of the affected children. 
• Promoting quality family-based care based on the child's individual needs & desires including:
  • Establishing a cross-border family tracing and reunification programme in coordination with key actors.
  • Ensuring that children (starting with the youngest as a matter of urgency) are transitioned to family-based care and de-institutionalised.  

Background:

The returns issue might apply to as many as 1,600 children in 27 locations across Poland where children from Ukrainian institutional care centres have been staying since their evacuation in 2022. 

In May 2023, 30 children were returned to Ukraine from Łódź and 46 children were returned from Duszniki-Zdrój in Poland. Children have also been returned from other locations in Poland, such as Laliki, Krasnobród and Bielsko-Biała.

Concerns particularly focus on children being returned to areas of Ukraine affected by active conflict, including Dnipro, where infrastructure and services are damaged and limited. In addition, concerns relate to children with disabilities, health conditions, and developmental delays who have additional support needs.

It is therefore crucial to ensure that best-interest procedures and mechanisms are established in collaboration with relevant actors both whilst the children are evacuated to host countries and in terms of long-term planning.

Signatories: 

• Save the Children International (Poland) 
• International Rescue Committee 
• CARE International
• Danish Refugee Council